Paula's Choice
Discoloration Repair SerumArencia
Retinal Booster ShotA serum built around Niacinamide and Tranexamic acid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 59.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 24.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
Every check both products could be assessed on comes out the same. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair15
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Behenyl Alcohol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Niacinamide, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Hydrating8
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Ectoin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair17
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cholesterol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycerin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1
Reduces Irritation3
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Concerns
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behenyl Alcohol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis17
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycosphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Olivate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Solvent
Emollient
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →Tocopherol
Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Occlusive
Tocopherol is vitamin E.
Learn more about Tocopherol →Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Bakuchiol is bakuchiol.
Learn more about Bakuchiol →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Hydrogenated Lecithin
Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Lecithin →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →
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